Shelter Supplies

Each year Missourians are affected by disasters such as tornadoes, fires, storms, floods, and power outages. Many stay in local shelters until it is safe to return to their home. To make the stay more comfortable evacuees are encouraged to consider the below information when gathering belongings and materials for their shelter supply kit.

Food

Special foods (Ensure, etc.)

High energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, and other snack foods may be a good idea if you get hungry in between meals

Special dietary foods--such as diabetic, low salt, liquid diet,

Baby food, formula and juice

Manual can opener

Clothing and Bedding

Complete change of clothing including footwear

A sleeping bag, blanket and pillow

Rain gear

Sturdy shoes

Inflatable mattress

Personal Items

Washcloth and small towel

Soap

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Deodorant

Sanitary napkins

Personal hygiene items

Paper towels, kleenex, toilet paper and towelettes

Diapers and wipes, stroller, portable crib or play pen

Eyeglasses, contacts, contact container and cleaning solution

Hearing aid and hearing aid batteries

Medications and First-Aid Supplies

Prescription medications -- clearly marked with your name, dosage, type of medication, and prescribing physician (you must be able to take all medications by yourself), and a pill planner box if used

Over the counter medications -- clearly marked with your name, dosage and type of medication
(you must be able to take all medications by yourself)

Diabetics should bring extra needles and syringes, as well as blood sugar testing equipment

Individuals with breathing difficulties who use oxygen should bring additional oxygen cylinders

Miscellaneous

Individuals Receiving In-Home and Home Healthcare Services

Individuals receiving in-home or home healthcare services should make arrangements for the caregiver to provide services in the shelter. Individuals should bring admission folder from the home health agency.

Pets

Service animals who assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in most shelters. However, some shelters also have arrangements for sheltering pets in nearby facilities. Typically, the pet must be in a cage to be admitted to the pet shelter. Please review the Ready in 3 household pets information for more details.

The ADA defines service animals as any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability including, but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. Under the ADA regulations, service animals have access to the same facilities as the humans they serve.